DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 7, 13, and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the wall of the pocket" in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 2 establishes “a pocket wall,” however claim 7 does not depend from claim 2. One potential resolution to the lack of antecedent basis would be to amend claim 6 to depend from claim 2.
Claim 13 recites the limitation “the hole of the pocket” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 2 establishes “a hole,” however claim 13 does not depend from nor incorporate the subject matter of claim 2. One potential resolution to the lack of antecedent basis would be to amend claim 12, line 3 to recite –a bladder according to claim 2--.
Claim 16 recites the limitation “the hole” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. One potential resolution to the lack of antecedent basis would be to amend claim 15 to depend form claim 13, assuming the above issue with claim 13 is resolved.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6, 8-12, and 14-15 are allowed.
Claims 7, 13 and 16 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art fails to anticipate, teach, suggest or otherwise render obvious each and every element of the claims. Independent claim 1 discloses a blader including, inter alia, a pocket on the inside of the body, the pocket defining a pocket volume configured for receiving an end piece of a packer tool, so as to rotationally engage therewith.
Tuomi [FI126533B] discloses a blader with a main section, and branch section. Tuomi fails to disclose a pocket with the configuration as required by the claims.
Claim 1 is allowable as the prior art fails to disclose the details of the pocket as required by the claim, in combination with the other features of the claim. Claims 2-16 incorporate the allowable subject matter of claim 1.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL MCNALLY whose telephone number is (571)272-2685. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael Orlando can be reached at 571-270-5038. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DANIEL MCNALLY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1746
DPM
June 27, 2026
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